I have had symptoms for years but they are getting worse. This past May I had a really bad week where everytime I stood up it felt like my heart rate increased and I was SO dizzy that I was going to pass out. It felt better when I was laying down. My doctor wasn't sure what it was. It comes and goes but standing in lines, like at the grocery store are brutal and I have almost passed out many times. I finally got myself a blood pressure monitor and just checked today. I did the test twice. For the standing test I took my blood pressure as soon as I stood up. I will note: I am not overweight, don't smoke, drink or do drugs and eat pretty healthy.

First, Welcome to HealingWell... but I'm sorry for the symptoms you are having :(

A great website for learning more about POTS is www.dinet.org. It's *overview* of POTS is spot on - well, at least for me it is! Here's a quote from their site:

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is defined by excessive heart rate increments upon upright posture. A person with POTS will experience heart rates that increase 30 beats or more per minute upon standing and/or increase to 120 beats or more per minute upon standing (Grubb, 2000). These exaggerated heart rate increases usually occur within 10 minutes of rising. (from www.dinet.org)

So - according to the above definition - and my own experiences - reading your symptoms, it really does seem that POTS is a definite possibility...

Obviously - I'm not a medical professional and none of us here can *diagnose*... but, from my own journey w/ POTS - all that you share sounds very familiar.

Re: your question - my symptoms aren't always constant nor predictable. Sometimes I jump up too quickly and feel extremely dizzy, blood pressure plummets, heart rate hits the roof, etc - and I've passed out a few times. Have almost passed out 100's of times. BUT there are other times when I can do the exact same thing (change in positions) - and be just fine.

My encouragement to you is to find a doctor that knows about POTS or is willing to research it out and help you.... My PCP was the original one to diagnose me; but, after having to move, I found a cardiologist that knew the basics of POTS - but also researched it out completely - and continues to be my treating doctor... There are medications that can help you manage the symptoms, if that's something you need. I know many other *tips* for managing POTS... if you have anything specific - please feel free to ask.

Take of yourself - and let us know what you find out or how you are doing.... --TinaModerator - Chronic Pain Forum

My faith and family sustain me even on my worst days... as well as my wonderful friends here at HW.

Health/Pain Issues - too many to list; feel free to e-mail me or ask on the board. Thanks!

My diagnosis was basically after testing EVERYTHING else under the sun (so exclusion).... followed by the tilt table test (which I failed).... and then a willing doctor who researched everything.

I'm not sure re: the tilt table test question - but it's one you might want to search out on the website I posted in my original post... Honestly, it's been almost 6 years since I had the tilt table test - and I just can't remember all that went into the results and all of that...

I would encourage you to print out the basics of POTS to give to your doctor....

I wish you the best of luck! Update when you can :) --TinaModerator - Chronic Pain Forum

My faith and family sustain me even on my worst days... as well as my wonderful friends here at HW.

Health/Pain Issues - too many to list; feel free to e-mail me or ask on the board. Thanks!

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in this life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from."~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross